Sky-diver toy with pack and parachute combination



June 28, 1966 w. GORDON m 3,257,752

SKY-DIVER TOY WITH PACK AND PARACHUTE COMBINATION INVENTOR. Robert W. GordonlZI ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,257,752 SKY-DIVER TOY WITH PACK AND PARACHUTE COMBINATION Robert W. Gordon III, 1 S. Albion St., Denver, Colo. Filed July 30, 1964, Ser. No. 386,269 Claims. (Cl. 46-86) a sky diving toy which is simple and durable in construction so as to operate efiiciently over long periods of usage.

Another object of my invention is to provide a durable and efficient timing mechanism which will consistently and accurately release the parachute at selected time intervals and is conveniently adjustable for various height projections.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sky diver toy in which the parachute pack is instantly unfastened and released at the end of a preselected time interval, thus assuring consistent operation of the parachute.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sky-diver toy of this invention showing the back pack in an enclosing position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy shown in FIG. 1 in a descending position with the parachute opened;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the toy shown in FIG. 1 illustrating in detail the fastening arrangement for the back pack; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the toy shown in FIG. 1 illustrating in detail the motor and stop arrangement. 1

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a sky-diver toy generally designated by numeral 3. This toy includes a head 4 mounted on a body or trunk portion 5. Arms 6 and legs 7 extend from the body and are preferably constructed of flexible wire mesh (FIG. 3) capable of being shaped in a curved manner and suitable for absorbing the impact with the ground resulting from the fall.

A harness 8 is fitted around body 5 with a simulated pack 10 attached thereto at the lower front portion of the body which is not operational. A back pack 11 is operational for enclosing and discharging the parachute and which is attached to harness 8 at the back of body 5.

Back pack 11 includes a back portion attached to harness 8 from which extend a top flap 12 and bottom flap 13 which extend downwardly and upwardly, respectively, over the folded parachute. Side flaps 14 and 15 extend from the back portion and overlap the top and bottom flaps with side flap 14 overlapping side flap 15, thereby fully enclosing parachute 16 when in a folded position. One end of parachute 16 is preferably attached to harness 3 Where it extends over the shoulder portion of the body (FIG. 2). Alternately, direct attachment of the parachute to the body could be made.

For holding the pack portions in the enclosing position there is provided a fastening arrangement on the side flaps. Overlapping side flap 14 has three openings spaced vertically at upper, central and lower positions near its outer edge for receiving loops or eyelets 21, 22 and 23, respectively, which are attached at spaced upper, central, and lower positions near the outer edge of overlapped side fiap 15. Pins 25, 26 and 27 extend through loops 21, 22 and 23, respectively, for holding the overlapping sides in position, thereby completing the fastening arrangement for'holding the pack 11 in an enclosing position.

This fastening arrangement is released by simultaneously pulling pins 25, 26 and 27 from loops 21, 22 and 23, respectively, in a manner more fully described hereinafter.

A cord 29 extends through eye portions of pins 25, 26 and 27, respectively, and is attached thereon at equally spaced distances along the cord. This cord extends over one shoulder of the body 5 and attaches at its other end to a key 30 extending from the front central portion of body 5.

The body 5 has a hollow interior which houses a driving mechanism or motor 31 preferably of a spring-wound type having a rotary shaft 32 extending to the exterior of the body on which key' 30 is fastened. A gear 33 is mounted on the shaft within the body. A switch or brake arm 34 is pivot-ally mounted within the body for engagement with gear 33 to alternately lock and release for rotation of motor 31. One end of brake arm 34 has a sharp edge for engagement with the teeth of gear 33 and the opposite end extends through a slot in a side of body 5 for vertical movement by the operator. An upward force on the brake arm portion extending through the slot releases engagement with the gear and a downward force engages the gear to stop the motor rotation.

Flexible or elastic bands 35, 36 and 37 arev disposed in spaced relation at upper, central and lower positions of pack 11, extend around its back portion, and attach by a hook and eye arrangement near the outer edges of side flaps 14, 15. Attachment of the bands on the side flaps is in line with and inwardly of the flap edges from a fastening loop and eye combination described above. When the pack is in an enclosing position bands 35, 36 and 37 are under tension so that upon release of the pack fasteners the side portions will be retracted to facilitate discharge of the folded parachute enclosed therein.

Attachment of the bands to the edges of the side flaps includes hooks 38, 39 on the ends of band 35; hooks 41, 42 on the ends of band 36; and hooks 44, 45 on the ends of band 37. At the upper position of pack 11 eyelet 48 attaches to side flap 15 opposite from eyelet 49 attached to side flap 14 with hook 38. in eyelet 48 and hook 39 in eyelet 49. Centrally of pack 11 eyelet 51 attaches to side flap 15 opposite from eyelet 52 attached to side flap 14 with hook 41 in eyelet 51 and hook 42 in eyelet 52. At the lower position of pack 11 eyelet 54 attaches to side flap 15 opposite from eyelet 55 attached to side flap 14 with hook 44 in eyelet 54 and hook 45 in eyelet 55.

In operation motor 31 is wound by the operator and brake arm 34 set in a downward position to lock the rotation of motor 31. The parachute 16 is folded and enclosed by the flaps of pack 11. Pins 25, 26 and 27 are pushed through loops 21, 22 and 23, respectively (FIG. 3), thereby enclosing the parachute in a fastened arrangement.

Immediately prior to projecting the toy into the air brake arm 34. is pushed upwardly, allowing key 30 to rotate with shaft 32, thereby winding cord 29 around the shaft and key and pulling the pins from their respective loops when the toy reaches a position at or near its highest point.

After the pins are pulled, side flaps 14 and 15 are retracted by the elastic bands 35, 36 and 37 to facilitate discharge of the parachute 16 so that the toy will descend to the ground under the suspension of the parachute.

The time interval for releasing the pack fastening may be varied to accommodate different heights of projection by varying the length of pins 25, 26 and 27 or the degree of penetration of the pins in the eyelets.

The various components of the toy may be made of a variety of materials suitable for withstanding the shock encountered. Various rotary drive mechanisms capable of a brake lock and release are obviously suitable.

Although I have illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, I do not desire my invention be limited to the specific details illustrated and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A sky diver toy for descending under suspension of a parachute after projection into the atmosphere, comprising a body portion, a parachute secured to the body portion, a pack attached to the body portion including a strip portion having overlapping ends with said parachute enclosed in a folded position between said ends and having elastic means having front and rear ends, each of said front and rear ends being attached to each of said overlapping ends respectively for substantially encompassing the pack in a taut condition, fastening means for holding the pack in an enclosing position about the folded parachute, and means for releasing the pack fastening means after a preselected time interval thereby permitting the elastic means to slacken and unfold the overlapping ends of the elastically biased strip portion from the folded parachute.

2. A sky diver toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elastic means includes at least a pair of elastic bands in spaced relation on said pack.

3. A sky diver toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes spaced openings on one of the overlapping ends of the pack and said spaced loops on the other overlapping end portion with said spaced loops extending through corresponding spaced openings and elongated members extending through each loop.

4. A sky-diver toy for descending under suspension of a parachute after projection into the atmosphere comprising a body portion having flexible arms and legs, a harness attached to the body portion, a parachute secured to the body portion, a pack attached to the harness at 4 the back of the body, said pack having back, top, bottom, and overlapping side portions for enclosing the parachute in a folded position, spaced openings on one overlapping side portion with corresponding spaced loops on the other side portion extending through the openings with elongated pins extending through the loops for holding said pack portions in an enclosing position, a drive enclosed within the body having a key extending from the drive shaft exteriorly of the body for winding the drive, a cord extending from the key and connected to the pins, a brake for locking the drive movement so that upon releasing the brake the key will move and pull said pins from the loops after a predetermined time interval to release the enclosed pack, and elastic bands extending around the back portion of the pack and attached near the edges of said side portions so that upon release of the pack the side portions are retracted to facilitate opening of the folded parachute.

5. A sky-diver toy for descending to the ground under suspension of a parachute after projection into the atmosphere comprising a body portion having flexible arms and legs of wire mesh to absorb ground impact, a harness attached to the body portion, a parachute secured to the harness, a pack attached to the harness at the back of the body, said pack having back, top, bottom, and overlapping side portions for enclosing the parachute in a folded position, spaced eyes on one overlapping side portion with corresponding spaced loops on the other side portion extending through the eyes with elongated pins extending through the loops for holding said pack portions in an enclosing position, a motor enclosed withing the body having a key extending from the motor shaft exteriorly of the body for winding the motor, a cord extending from the key and connected to the pins, a brake for locking the motor rotation so that upon releasing the brake the key will rotate and pull said pins from the loops after a predetermined time interval to release the enclosed pack, and elastic bands extending around the back portion of the pack and attached near the edges of said side portions so that upon release of the pack the side portions are retracted to facilitate opening of the folded parachute.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,272 10/1885 Anderson 46156 1,709,627 4/ 1929 Osborne 4686 2,219,311 10/1940 Hammond et al. 46--86 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. LOUIS J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SKY DIVER TOY FOR DESCENDING UNDER SUSPENSION OF A PARACHUTE AFTER PROJECTION INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, COMPRISING A BODY PORTION, A PARACHUTE SECURED TO THE BODY PORTION, A PACK ATTACHED TO THE BODY PORTION INCLUDING A STRIP PORTION HAVING OVERLAPPING ENDS WITH SAID PARACHUTE ENCLOSED IN A FOLDED POSITION BETWEEN SAID ENDS AND HAVING ELASTIC MEANS HAVING FRONT AND REAR ENDS, EACH OF SAID FRONT AND REAR ENDS BEING ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID OVERLAPPING ENDS RESPECTIVELY FOR SUBSTANTIALLY ENCOMPASSING THE PACK IN A TAUT CONDITION, FASTENING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE PACK IN AN ENCLOSING POSITION ABOUT THE FOLDED PARACHUTE, AND MEANS FOR RELEASING THE PACK FASTENING MEANS AFTER A PRESELECTED TIME INTERVAL THEREBY PERMITTING THE ELASTIC MEANS TO SLACKEN AND UNFOLD THE OVERLAPPING ENDS OF THE ELASTICALLY BIASED STRIP PORTION FROM THE FOLDED PARACHUTE. 